The Bakerloo line will grind to a halt this Boxing Day after an ‘overwhelming’ RMT union vote over a staffing row with TfL.
The transports workers’ union says the London Underground’s bosses have failed to ensure ‘sufficient shift coverage in line with previous commitments’, and say that the London Underground’s current position ‘creates undue stress on staff and puts all members and the travelling public at increased risk’.
Striking union members will not book any shifts between 5am and 11pm on Wednesday, December 26. They will also strike in January, from 10.29 pm on Sunday 13, to 10.29pm the following day.
RMT General Secretary Mick Cash said: “RMT members are rightly angry that staffing levels on the Bakerloo Line have been hacked back to the bone presenting a serious danger to staff and passengers alike.
“Previous commitments to ensure safe staffing coverage have been flouted and in order to press the company to address the issues we have no option but to announce a programme of action.
“The union remains available for serious and genuine talks.”
But London Underground’s customer service chief slammed the action as ‘unjustified’ and said it would heap misery on travellers over the festive period.
Brian Woodhead, London Underground’s Director for Customer Service, told the News: “This action is entirely unjustified.
“We have adhered to all the commitments that we have made on staffing numbers across the network, and upheld the agreements made with unions as recently as last year.
“We call on them to withdraw this action, which will only cause unnecessary disruption for customers during the festive period, and to work with us to resolve this dispute without strike action.”